Can-labeling machine



(No Model.)

H. W. PHASE.

CAN LABELING MACHINE.

Patented Npv InJnZa r THE mums qz'rsns w. ncToumo. WASNINGTON, o, c.

UNITED STATES- PATE T (lrrrcn.

HENRY XV. PEASE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS-SIGNMENTS, TO L.

C. PARKE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CAN-LABELING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,604, dated November16, 1897.

Application filed April 22, 1895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W. PEASE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCan-Labeling Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact specification.

My invention relates to machines for automatically pasting labels 011round or cylindrical objects, such as cans or'jars, and moreparticularly to that species of machines in which the momentum of thecan or object itself in descending along an inclined runway imparts tothe various devices which cooperate in the application of the label tothe can the necessary power for their actuation; and my presentinvention is designed as an improvement on a device of this nature shownand described in United States Letters Patent to Orittenden and Pease,No. 497,368, patented May 16, 1893, to which reference may be had for anunderstanding of any features common to both patents.

My present improvements relate more particularly to the stop mechanismfor holding thecans in check and the tripping device for releasing suchmechanism.

One of the objects ofmy invention is to improve the stop mechanism andreleasing device therefor, whereby the former will be more positive,accurate, and reliableinchecking the cans, and the latter will be moresensitive and responsive to the pressure of the cans and consequentlywill require less power for its actuation. I

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features ofnovelty herein described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a can-labelingmachine embodying my improvements, partly in vertical longitudinalsection. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, partly broken away.

Like signs of reference indicate like parts inboth the views.

In carrying out my invention I employ an inclined runway 1, which may beof the ordinary or any suitable construction, supported Serial No.471,464. (No model.)

upon suitable standards or legs 2. At the upper end of this runway Ijournal a transverse horizontal shaft 3, which is provided at a pointbetween the sides of the runway with a number of spokes or arms 4,secured to or formed on the shaft and being capable of imparting arotary movement thereto. These spokes or arms 4 are preferably four innumber and are arranged radially on the shaft in the form of apaddle-wheel, and they constitute stops for holding the cans 5 (shown indotted lines) in check, their dimensions being such that each in turnprojects a sufficient distance above the runway to be deflected ordepressed far enough .by the foremost can to bring the next arm or spokeup above the runway in front of the next can, whereby the latter willcontinue the rotation of the shaft 3 or will be stopped by the spoke orarm, accordingly as said shaft is locked or allowed to rotate. Theconstruction is such, however, as to permit of only an intermittentrotation of the shaft, thus allowing the cans to pass or proceed one ata time; and to this end the shaft is provided With a toothed wheel orratchet-wheel 6, having a number of teeth equal at least to the numberof arms or levers 4 and being adapted to be engaged by alongitudinallvmovable bolt or latch 7. This latch or bolt '7 worksthrough a suitable guide or keeper 8 and is pivoted at its lower end toa swinging arm 9, which in turn is pivoted to a standard 10 and isadapted to be deflected or raised by the moving can for withdrawing thebolt or latch 7 from engagement with the tooth of the wheel 6 each timea can rolls under and raises the arm 9. In order that the arm 9 maybetter perform its function, I provide the same at its lower end 0 withan antifriction roller 11, which is mounted upon a horizontal pintleprojecting transversely over the runway, whereby it is adapted to beengaged by the edge of the can, and in order that the trip or releasingmech- 5 anism thus constituted may not produce an unequal resistance onthe ends of the can, which would tend to deflect the can from a straightcourse, I arrange a similar arm 12 on the opposite side of the runwayand provide ICO it likewise at its lower end'with an antifric-.tion-roller 13 similar to the roller 11, While at its upper end it ispivoted to a suitable standard 14, the two arms 9 12 being connectedtogether, however, by a transverse shaft-15, whereby the motion of onewill be imparted to the other.

If desired, one or both of the arms 9 12 may be provided with aretracting-spring 16, suitably secured to the runway or other fixed partof the machine, which will accelerate the gravitation of such arms andeffect the prompt return of the bolt or latch 7 to a position to be inreadiness to arrest the rotation of the shaft 3 and the arms thereonwhen the next tooth of thewheel 6 has reachediit. Thus it will be seenthat as soon as the foremost can has passed the uppermost arm or spoke 4the next arm will oppose the movement of the next foremost can and holdthe latter-until the can just released has passed under the rollers 1113, causing the-arms9 12 to rise andwithdraw the bolt or latch 7, whereupon the rotation of the shaft will be .permitted, and the weight of thecan restingagainst the uppermost one of the arms or spokes 4 willaccordingly depress such armor spoke and proceed down the runway in themanner described.

After the can has passed the arm or spoke 4 and before it reaches thedescribed tripping mechanism it rolls under the initial paste roller 17,mounted above the runway in such a position as to come in contact withthe can and coat the same with paste received from a paste-trough 18throughout a suflicient area to enable it to pick up and adhere to oneof the labels 19 asit rolls over the same, substantially in the mannershown in the-afore said patent. l

\Vith the stopping and releasing mecham ismthns described it will beseen that the feeding of a single can at a time is rendered absolutelycertain, inasmuch as the cans can not pass down the runway withoutrevolving the arms or spokes 4, and in doing so theynecessarily'brin gthe teeth of a the ratchet wheel 6' one after the other into engagementwith the sliding bolt 7, which being arranged,

as shown, so as to move at substantially right angles to the line ofpressure or force produced upon it bysuch wheel 6 is capable ofresisting great pressure and yet requires but little power for itswithdrawal from engage-' ment with the teeth of such wheel, therebyrendering it very sensitive and responsive to the pressure of the cansas they descend along the runway.

With-a machine of this character it is often desirable to keep, asupplyof cans on the runway above the stop mechanism or spokes 4, and in orderthat the feeding of thissuppl-y of cans through the machine may bechecked, when desired, without the necessity of removing this store ofcans from the runway, I provide a stop-lever 20, which may be pivoted tothe side of the'runway and provided with a tooth adapted to engage withthe teeth of the wheel GWlIQD thrown into a forward po- ;for:restricting its movement tothe perpen- To each end of this table or bed22' dicular. is secured one end of a strap or other equivalent device23, which passes upward over a.

roller 24, journaled in the sides of the frame.

' The other ends of these strapsare secured,

respectively, to two sectors 25 26, journaled upon shafts 27, supportedin the side members of the frame in such a manner that. when the sectorsarerotated away from the labelbed the straps 23 will be drawn upward andthe bed consequently elevated, forcing the labels 19 up flush with thesurface of the runway, so as to be in a position to be impinged by thecan as it rolls over them. In order that the labels may be held up totheir proper position with a gentle pressure and great nice'ty, each ofthe sectors 25 26 is actuated to turn away from the label-bed in the.manner described by an adjustable weight 28.

' These weights may be connected to and adapt- V ed to effect therotation of the sectors in any suitable manner. attaining this end Ihave provided each of the sectors with an extension or'arm 29, which isshown'as a part of the sector, but of course might be secured to theshaft 27. The weights 28 are provided with apertures, through which As aconvenient means of the arms 29 pass, and with set-screws 30,by

:means of which the said weights may be secured at any desired points onthe armswhen it is desired to vary the degree of upward ten;

sion on the label-bed. Ordinarily, however,

ithese weights would be so set as to a little ,more than counterbalancethe weight of the,

bed and the full supply of labels. As the labels are removed one by onethe weight of thebed is gradually lightened and the preponderance ofweight on the off side of the sectors causes 'the bed to rise thedistance of the thickness of one label, and so onnntil all of the labelshave been removed, the weights 28, however,

descending a short distance each timea label is removed, and bycomingnearer'and nearer to the perpendicular in this manner their effecton'thelabel-bed is'diminished proportionately with the reduction of the weighton such bed, thus holding the bed up to its work at all times with agentle and uniformpres- In order that the sectors may exert the erenceto their respective straps and to the arms 29 that both arms will alwaysbe at the same angle of inclination to the perpendicular, whereby theywill simultaneously arrive at a perpendicular or vertical position, andconsequently simultaneously cease acting upon the label-bed. By theemployment of one of these sectors at each end of the board in thismanner all liability of the bed binding in its guideways is avoided andboth ends are carried upward with a uniform and gentle pressure.

Throughout the specification and claims I have referred to the portions26 as sectors, but it will nevertheless be understood that it would notinvolve a departure from the spirit of my invention to make theseportions in the form of a complete circle or wheel, a sector beingemployed because the other half of a circle or wheel would besuperfluous;

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a can-labeling machine, the combination with a runway andlabel-applyingmechanism, of a rotary stop-Wheel having a number of armsor spokes adapted to project into the path of the cans, a device forlockingsaid stop-wheel against rotation, and a trip arranged in the pathof and adapted to be struck by the cans for automatically releasing saidlocking device, substantially as set forth.

2. In a can-labeling machine, the combination with a runway andlabel-applying mechanism, of a rotary stop-wheel having a number of armsor spokes adapted to project into the path of the cans and beingprovided with a toothed wheel, a bolt or latch arranged to engage theteeth of said wheel, and a trip arranged to be operated by the cans forautomatically withdrawing said bolt or latch and releasing saidstop-wheel, substantially as set forth. 3. In a can-labeling machine,the combination with a runway and label-applying mechanism, of a rotarystop-wheel having a number of arms or spokes adapted to project into thepath of the cans and being provided with a toothed wheel, a bolt orlatch arranged to engage with the teeth of said wheel and a pivoted armarranged in the path of the cans and connected to said latch forwithdrawing the latter from engagement with said toothed wheel,substantially as set forth.

at. In a can-labelingmachine, the combination with the runway andlabel-applying mechanism, of a horizontal shaft having a number ofradial arms orspokes projecting upward from the runway, a ratchet-wheelon said shaft, a sliding bolt or latch arranged to engage with saidratchet-wheel, connected arms pivoted above the runway and havingconnection with said bolt or latch, projections on said arms extendingtransversely of the runway and means for forcing said latch intoengagement with the ratchet-wheel, substantially as set forth.

5. In a can-labeling machine, the combination with a runway andlabel-applying mechanism, of a rotary stop-wheel having a number of armsor spokes adapted to project into the path of the cans, a ratchet-Wheelon the axis of said stop-wheel having teeth corresponding in number andarrangement with said arms or spokes, a device for locking saidstop-wheel against rotation, a trip arranged in the path of and adaptedto be struck by the cans for automatically releasing said lockingdevice, and a permanent stop-lever having a tooth and being pivoted soas toswing into engagement with the teeth of said ratchetwheel,substantially asset forth.

6. In a can-labeling machine, the combina tion with a body portion, ofcan-delivering means, a paste-applying device, a label-carrying table, astop-detent for the delivering means, and a lever carried tion, andadapted to be engaged by the can, said lever being connected to andcontrolling the stop and detent, substantially as set forth.

7. In a can-labeling machine, an inclined table or way over which thecan rolls, awheel located in the can-path and controlling the feed ofthe cans, a locking device for the wheel and means also located in thecan-path and actuated by the passing cans for releasing the lockingdevice, substantially as set forth.

8. In a can-labeling machine, radial arms forming receptacles into whichthe cans are received at the upper end of the table, a pawlan d-ratchetmechanism by which the holdingarms are retained in position, a roller atthe lower end of the apparatus adapted to be raised by the passage ofthe cans beneath it and a connection between said roller and the pawlwhich holds the ratchet at the upper end, whereby the pawl is withdrawnand the cans delivered upon the table, substantially as set forth.

HENRY W. PEASE. /Vitnesses F. A. HOPKINS, .JNo. G. ELLIOTT.

on the body por ICO

